High Holidays

This year, Robert Dunn did an outstanding job as our new "ba'al tekiah"

Each year after Rosh Hashanah services, the congregation goes to Manahawkin Lake for Tashlich. Last year we were delighted to find that a new gazebo had been constructed next to the lake. We conducted the Tashlich ritual from the gazebo, which was a welcome change from previous years when we had to walk down to the lake on what was often uneven and muddy ground. In 2014 the weather did not cooperate and Rabbi Gerringer had a brilliant idea. We cast our bread out the door, where we held the Oneg, onto the water saturated ground.

Tashlich

Tashlich, “to throw or to cast away,” is a custom celebrated by traditional Jews sometime between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, usually on the afternoon of the first day of Rosh Hashanah. The ceremony can take place anytime during the holiday season through Hashanah Rabbah, at the end of Sukkot. The custom of saying Tashlich originates from medieval times, sometime around the 13th century, and it symbolizes our hope that God will forgive all our sins.

At the Tashlich ritual it is customary to say special prayers and throw bread crumbs in to a body of water as a symbolic act of repentance. Some prefer the body of water to contain living fish to remind us that just as fish are protected by the water in which they live, we pray to be protected by God. Also, just as fish swim freely and can suddenly be caught in a net, so too we can just as helplessly fall into the net of sin. Fish never close their eyes and that is a reminder to us of the ever-watchful eyes of God, Who keeps watch over us but Who also looks upon us with mercy.

Furthermore, there is a mystical belief that fish are immune to the “Evil Eye” and by casting our sins where there are fish, we are indirectly asking to be protected from the evils of the world.

The practice of Tashlich is based on a verse from the book of the prophet, Micah, where it says: “And You will cast (“v’tashlich”) all their sins into the depths of the sea.”

Family and friends get together at the water to “cast away” the sins of the past year and resolve to be better people in the year to come. Tashlich is sometimes referred to as “Tossing Tashlich.” The psychological ramifications of such an act are immeasurable; we go to a body of water, say prayers and we can feel that we are walking away with a clean slate. The water has symbolically carried away our misdeeds and we are free to start over. This does wonders for one’s spiritual self-esteem! Tashlich, therefore, is a way to admit our own faults and symbolically shed the baggage of last year’s mistakes. It gives us a starting point, and in the face of our own personal conflicts, we can affirm our closeness to humanity and our God.

Why should we, as Reform Jews, be interested in a practice which on the surface seems to be mere superstition? One of the beauties of Reform Judaism is its ability to peel back the outer layers of superstitions to uncover the impulses beneath them and reclaim and transform them into rituals which enhance our celebration of Jewish life. So it is with the ceremony of Tashlich. We can plumb the depths of this old custom and transform it into something new and valuable for all of us.

Yom Kippur

Yom Kippur services are equally beautiful and inspiring. A highlight of the afternoon service is a speech by several congregants telling their individual Jewish journeys. To read some of these click here.

The day ends with Robert Dunn's blowing of the Tekiah Gadolah on the shofar, a brief havdalah service and a wonderful break the fast featuring delicious dairy items.

sukkot

In 2009 the Congregation purchased a pre-fabricated succah, which we were permitted to put up in the yard outside the entrance. We have been able to use it several times. Often winds and storms have knocked it over. The succah is supposed to be, after all, a fragile dwelling. Depending on the schedule of the Hebrew School, the Rabbi's availability, and when Sukkot falls, we have been forced to improvise. This year, we did not have the outdoor succah. In 2013 we had an indoor one (see photo gallery for pictures). This slide show contains pictures from the last year we were able to have an outdoor succah for the holiday. Whether it is inside or outside, it is always a joyous and wonderful festival.

Simchat Torah

In 2012 Rabbi Geringer unrolled one scroll down the center aisle of the sanctuary. it was so popular that in 2014 we unrolled both scrolls down the aisle.

On Simchat Torah, we rejoice in God's giving us the Torah. On this holiday, we read the last verse of the Torah and then go back to the first verse. In this picture, the Torah was unrolled around the whole sanctuary so the congregation could hold the scroll and watch it being rolled back to the first verse of Genesis.

SimchatTorah is always a joyous occasion marked by the usual processions with the Torah and the accompanying ceremony. Over the years, it has been the practice of the Congregation to unroll the Torah and have it held by members the whole way around the sanctuary. It truly gives meaning to completing the last verses of Deuteronomy and beginning with the first verse of Genesis. Rabbi Gerringer is scene reading both sections of the scroll.

Chanukah

On the 7th night of Chanukah 2013, we held our 2nd annual party at Lefty's Restaurant in Barnegat. It was a lovely evening and very well attended. Miles Levy and Syble began the evening by lighting the Chanukah Menorah. Syble entertained and educated the group with her Chanukah Trivia Game, which tested the group's knowledge of various aspects of the Holiday. Everyone enjoyed the game and learned some interesting facts, too. The evening ended with some Chanukah songs.

In 2014, the congregation will have a home cooked Shabbat Chanukah dinner in our usual location followed by services. Volunteers from the congregation will prepare a dinner of brisket, latkes and roasted vegetables. There are also several potluck Shabbat dinners throughout the course of the year which are always popular and provide a lovely way to welcome Shabbat as a congregation.

After the Chanukah dinner, Rabbi Gerringer asked everyone in the congregation to bring their own menorahs which were put on two large tables in the front of the sanctuary. The menorahs were lit with the usual blessings at the beginning of the service, and the candles cast a beautiful glow over the sanctuary during the entire service.

Congregation Sha’arey Ha -Yam has organized the public menorah lighting in the municipal building of Barnegat since our beginning. This is an opportunity for non-members and even non-Jews to come and see what Chanukah is about. After the lighting, Chanukah songs are sung and latkes, jelly donuts and hot chocolate and coffee are served. Our congregation has participated in the menorah lighting at Southern Ocean County Hospital as part of their Celebration of Lights. This event is also well attended. Our children from the Hebrew School sing Chanukah songs and refreshments are served. For past Chanukah photos click here.

Tu B'Shevat

SO WHAT IS TU B’SHEVAT?

Tu B’Shevat is the 15th day of the Jewish month of Shevat. It is known as the New Year for Trees.

Tu B’Shevat is one of four new years in the Jewish calendar. The others are: the first of Nissan for counting the reigns of the kings, the first of Elul for the tithing of animals, the first of Tishrei for the judgment of humankind (Rosh Hashanah). And Tu B’Shevat, the New Year for Trees.

In Israel, winter is usually a time of heavy rains and rushing, surging creeks and rivers. At about the middle of the month of Shevat, the rainstorms stop, and soon thereafter signs of spring begin to appear. Even though two more months of winter remain, buds begin to swell on the trees in Israel, the enduring symbol of God’s promise of renewed life.

According to some traditions, Noah’s Ark landed in the month of Shevat and the dove returned to the Ark with an olive branch in her beak. She heralds new life and the promise of a world that will once again bloom and provide nurture.

This is the third year we have held a Tu B'Shevat Seder, and this one was the best attended and most enjoyed Seder to date. The evening began with a pot luck dinner which featured a wide variety of delicious home-made dishes. The dinner was followed by the Seder. This year we used a new Haggadah which focuses on the environment and preserving the earth for future generations. Instead of the usual four cups of wine, this Seder has four cups of fruit juices.

The first cup is apple juice which was accompanied by fruits which grow in our community and communities throughout the country: apples, walnuts and raisins. The second cup was orange juice accompanied by fruits which grow in the land of Israel such as figs, dates, peaches, mangoes, pomegranates, almonds and oranges. The third cup was pineapple juice accompanied by fruits that come from around the world: bananas, coconuts, olives, apricots and pineapples. They remind us of our obligation to Jews around the globe. The fourth cup was grape juice. Instead of eating fruit with this cup, we planted seeds for the future. Parsley was planted in the hope that it will be ready to use during the Passover Seder.

Six students from the Hebrew School helped prepare the fruits, nuts and juices and also gave short speeches which explained their understanding of the holiday. Our choir led the singing of four Israeli songs which were well received and added greatly to the Seder. The evening ended with an amazing selection of desserts.

"MORE ABOUT THE HOLIDAY"

In Israel, since the beginning of agricultural settlements in the late 19th century, the New Year of Trees has acquired great significance, symbolizing the revival and redemption of the land. Today Tu B’Shevat has become a day of commitment to protecting the environment.

It is customary to eat the Seven Species that were abundant in the land of Israel. They are wheat, barley, grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives and dates. As with the Passover Seder, it is customary to drink four cups of wine. The first cup is white wine which symbolizes winter. As we drink it, we recall that nature has been dormant for many months, awaiting the warmth of spring and its annual renewal of life. With this cup we eat nuts and fruit with a tough skin to remind us of the protection the earth gives. In this group we eat pomegranates, nuts, citrus fruits and coconuts. Some people are hard to know but once their outer layer is peeled away you are rewarded.

The second cup of wine is white but tinged with a small amount of red. The mixture of colors symbolizes the beginning of spring and the reawakening of the earth. In Israel, pink and white flowers dot the hills at this season. Fruits in this group with a tough inner core. Through this act we acknowledge the need to fortify our hearts. These fruits are dates, olives, cherries, peaches and avocados.

The third cup is red wine with a splash of white. This represents the warmth and beauty of summer. With this cup we eat fruits that are completely edible. Fruits in this group include: figs, carob, grapes, berries apples and pears.

The fourth cup, completely red, symbolizes the glow of autumn. The crops are ready and the leaves are full of color. Plants are preparing seed for the next cycle of nature. This is the time of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur – a time to take stock of ourselves. Also it is the time of Sukkot and the celebration of the harvest.

If you are not a fan of winter and cold weather, you will find that attending a Tu B'Shevat Seder during the coldest time of the year to be an uplifting, comforting and wonderful experience. Once you have attended one of these Seders, you will look for to them every year in the future. Pictures from previous Seders, click here.

Purim

Every year our Purim services draw a larger congregation and are more enjoyable. This year the Congregation had a potluck dinner before the service. The children from the Hebrew School led the blessing of the Shabbat candles, the Kiddush and the Motzi. Many of the children came in costume and performed several Purim songs during the reading of the Megillah. The Rabbi wore a costume and read a great and entertaining abbreviated Megillah while the name of Haman was drowned out by groggers made by the Hebrew School. Musical Director Philip made a guest appearance as Uncle Shlomo. Everyone was entertained by the Rabbi's and Shlomo's witty repartee. After the service, the Oneg featured some fabulous desserts and homemade Hamentaschen. For past Purim photos click here.

Our Hebrew School had an opportunity to go to the Lakewood Matzoh Factory last week to see the 18 minute process of how Shemura Matzoh is made! What an experience watching the "Merry Matzoh Men" working in the kitchen under strict Rabbinical supervision, using the same method that has been done for years....even the baking in a wood burning oven! We were guided through the process by Chaplins Israel Bursztyn and Yakkov Wenger of the Ocean County Sheriff's Department. The Chaplins shared the story of the baking process enlightening the students with different facts, like many of the bakers were here from Israel assisting with the 24/7 process. Everyone, students, teachers and parents enjoyed the field trip, and look forward to doing the trip again next year. Next year in Lakewood!

Every year the Congregation has a Second Night Seder which is held in a nearby restaurant. The Seder is always very well attended by members, their extended families and non members. Everyone enjoys bringing their family and sharing the evening with their Temple family as well. Rabbi Geringer conducts the Seder with an interesting modern Haggadah, and the children from the Hebrew School sing Passover songs and usually do a presentation dramatizing the Plagues.